Regents approve 4% statewide tuition increase

I don’t use these words lightly in saying this year was a historic reinvestment in higher education by the Utah state Legislature.—Commissioner of Higher Education David Buhler

ST. GEORGE — After praising the Utah Legislature for its commitment to funding higher education, members of the Board of Regents voted Friday to approve the smallest statewide tuition increase in more than a decade.

Utah's public colleges and universities will see a tuition hike of 4 percent next year, with additional second-tier — or school-specific — increases of 1.5 percent to 2 percent at the University of Utah, Utah State University and Snow College.

Presenting the tuition proposal, Commissioner of Higher Education David Buhler said that growth in state revenue and collaboration with lawmakers led to greater government funding, which lessens the burden schools must place on their students.

"I don’t use these words lightly in saying this year was a historic reinvestment in higher education by the Utah state Legislature," Buhler said.

The change in first- and second-tier tuition translates to undergraduate resident students paying an additional $378 at the University of Utah, $290 at USU and $169 at Snow.

Students at Utah's remaining schools will see added annual costs ranging from $208 at Southern Utah University to $116 at Salt Lake Community College.

The regents also voted in favor of a resolution of appreciation, which praised the work of lawmakers and policymakers during the most recent legislative session. Board of Regents Vice-Chairman Daniel Campbell also commended Utah's college and university presidents for their collaborative work and said that positive relationships with lawmakers need to be maintained.

"I think we need to be very careful in continuing that momentum and ensuring that education and its importance stays in front of our legislators," Campbell said.